CHAPTER 57
The righteous
perish,
and no
one
takes
it to
heart;
devout
men
are swept away,
with none
considering
that
the righteous
are guided
from the presence
of evil.
Whom
are you mocking?
At
whom
do you snarl
and stick out
your tongue?
Are you
not
children
of transgression,
offspring
of deceit,
who burn with lust
among the oaks,
under
every
luxuriant
tree,
who slaughter
your children
in the valleys,
under
the clefts
of the rocks?
Among the smooth stones
of the valley
is your portion;
indeed, they
are your lot.
Even
to them you have
poured out
a drink offering,
you have offered
a grain offering.
Should I relent
because of
these?
Behind
the door
and doorpost
you have set up
your memorial.
Forsaking Me,
you uncovered
your bed;
you climbed up
and opened it wide.
And you have made a pact
with those
whose bed
you have loved;
you have gazed
upon their nakedness.
You went
to Molech
with oil
and multiplied
your perfumes.
You have sent
your envoys
a great distance;
you have descended
even to
Sheol itself.
You are wearied
by your many
journeys,
but you did not
say,
“There is no hope!”
You found
renewal
of your strength;
therefore
you did not
grow weak.
Whom
have you dreaded
and feared,
so that
you lied
and
failed
to remember Me
or take this
to
heart?
Have I
not
held My peace
such a long time,
and still
you
do not
fear Me?
When you cry out,
let your companies of idols
deliver you!
Yet
the wind
will carry off
all of them,
a breath
will take them away.
But he who seeks refuge
in Me
will inherit
the land
and possess
My holy
mountain.”
And it will be said,
“Build it up,
build it up,
prepare
the way,
take
every obstacle
out of the way
of My people.”
For
thus
says
the One who is high
and lifted up,
who inhabits
eternity,
whose name
is Holy:
“I dwell
in a high
and holy place,
and with
the oppressed
and humble
of spirit,
to restore
the spirit
of the lowly
and revive
the heart
of the contrite.
For
I will not
accuse you forever,
nor will I
always
be angry;
for
then the spirit of man
would grow weak
before Me,
with the breath
of those
I have made.
I was enraged
by his sinful
greed,
so I struck him
and hid My face
in anger;
yet he kept
turning back
to the desires
of his heart.
I have seen
his ways,
but I will heal him;
I will guide him
and restore
comfort
to him
and his mourners,
bringing
praise
to their lips.
“Peace,
peace
to those far
and near,”
says
the LORD,
“and I will heal them.”
But the wicked
are like the storm-tossed
sea,
for
it cannot
be still,
and its waves
churn up
mire
and muck.